Week 5 Flashcards
Each RBC circulates the whole body in _______ (amount of time)
20 secs
1 RBC contains ________ molecules of Oxygen on it
1 billion molecules of Oxygen/RBC
Each RBC has ________ molecules of hemoglobin on it
640 million
Hemoglobin structure; Composed of….
Composed of 4 polypeptides (string of amino acids), each called a globin, 2 of them alpha-globins and 2 beta globins
Heme: each globin contains __ heme group(s), each composed of….
Each globin contains a heme group, composed of porphyrin in a circular formation with a single iron in the middle. It is the iron + heme that contains oxygen attracting properties.
All about heme and globin structure and function:
Heme is a metallo-porphyrin
contains iron atoms & red pigment porphyrin
binds respiratory gases (O2 & CO2) and other less beneficial substances
Globin is a protein
composed of 4 amino acid chains:
2 alpha chains & 2 beta chains
Heme + globin = Hemoglobin
chain conformation allows the heme to bind, transport & release gas molecules
a tetrameric hemeprotein
____ hemes + ____ globins = Hemoglobin
What are the two states of hemoglobin?
4 globins + 4 hemes = hemoglobin
2 states: oxyhemoglobin - oxygen bound (bright red)
deoxyhemoglobin - without oxygen (bluish-red)
Hemoglobin Variants
3 normal variants (no clinical manifestations):
–Hemoglobin A (97% of total cell hemoglobin)
•2 alpha chains, 2 beta chains
–Hemoglobin A2 (
Fetal Hemoglobin
Child – Hemoglobin F (fetal)
Newborn: 50-80%
6 months: 8%
>6 months: 1-2%
Good graph of hemoglobin production at all stages of life (within first 15 slides)
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Hemoglobinopathies are members of a family of genetic disorders caused by:
Hemoglobinopathies are members of a family of genetic disorders caused by:
1- Production of a structurally abnormal hemoglobin molecule (Qualitative hemoglobinopathies)
Or: 2- Synthesis of insufficient quantities of normal hemoglobin
(Quantitative hemoglobinopathies)
Or: 3- both (rare).
Thalessemia
2 main types:
A genetic blood disorder where the body makes reduced amounts of globin chains.
•2 main types:
–Alpha thalassemia
•Affects alpha globins (most common in SE Asia, Middle East, China, Africa)
–Beta thalassemia
•Affects beta globins (most common in Mediterranean origin)
Both types (___________ and __________) of thalessemia can occur in the major or minor forms.
Symptoms include:
Both types (alpha and beta) can occur in the major or minor forms
Children with beta thalassemia major (Cooley’s anemia) develop anemia during first year of life. Other symptoms include:
- Bone deformities in the face
- Fatigue
- Jaundice
- Growth failure
- Shortness of breath, SOB
Beta Thalessemia Major
Hgb A1:
Hgb A2:
Hgb F:
Hgb A1: 5-20%
Hgb A2: 2-3%
Hgb F: 65-100%
- Thalessemia major is more sever!
Which thalassemia is more common? What does it result in?
Beta thalassemia minor is most common form (one beta chain is affected)
•Results in mild microcytic hypochromic anemia otherwise no clinical symptoms
Abnormal (Clinically significant) hemoglobin variations: Hemoglobin S: Hemoglobin C: Hemoglobin E: Hemoglobin Constant Spring: Hemoglobin H: Hemoglobin Barts:
Hemoglobin S
–Predominant in people with sickle cell disease. Disease exists on beta chain.
•Hemoglobin C
–Disease is relatively benign with mild hemolytic anemia and splenomegaly
•Hemoglobin E
–Mild hemolytic anemia and splenomegaly. Extremely common in SE Asia
•Hemoglobin Constant Spring
– Alpha chain is abnormally long resulting in a thalassemic phenotype.
•Hemoglobin H
– Composed of 4 beta chains. Happens in extreme limitation of alpha chains.
•Hemoglobin Barts
– No alpha chains are produced. Most individuals die in utero
How can you differentiate and determine which hemoglobinopathies are present in any given blood sample?
Genetic testing
mass spectroscopy
-Gel electrophoresis
Inherited defects in globin structure mostly involve……
Inherited defects in globin structure mostly involve a single amino acid substitution
Why do cells sickle?
- Glutamic acid is substituted for valine
* Allowing the polymerization of sickle hemoglobin when deoxygenated
Normal vs. Sickle cells
Shape?
Pliability?
Lifespan?
Normal
•Disc-Shaped
•Deformable
•Life span of 120 days
Sickle
•Sickle-Shaped
•Rigid
•Lives for 20 days or less
Hemolysis and Vaso-occlusion
Hemolysis:
The anemia in SCD is caused by red cell destruction, or hemolysis, and the degree of anemia varies widely between patients. The production of red cells by the bone marrow increases dramatically, but is unable to keep pace with the destruction.
Vaso-occlusion:
Occurs when the rigid sickle shaped cells fail to move through the small blood vessels, blocking local blood flow to a microscopic region of tissue. Amplified many times, these episodes produce tissue hypoxia. The result is pain, and often damage to organs.
Sickle cell trait (heterozygous)
Hgb S:
Hgb A1:
Hgb A2:
Hgb F:
Incidence is about __% of African Americans
Hgb S: 20-40%
Hgb A1: 60-80%
Hgb A2: 2-3%
Hgb F: 2%
•Incidence is about 8% of African Americans
•No anemia or clinical evidence of disease
•May develop splenic infarcts under hypoxic conditions
-Some may develop hematuria